Littleguy80

Hehe you may be right. I find it tricky to get the alignment correct and very frequently knock it out of alignment when then trying to aim the scope at the target. It all feels a bit haphazard resulting in not so great tracking. I’m sure with a lot more practice I could get it down. However, time under the stars is precious so I’d rather find a simpler solution that allows more time for the fun bits 😊I think it’s a bit like having a scope that’s too big to easily get out and observe with. The end result is you observe a lot less than if you had something a bit more grab and go.

Thank you. Looks like a more advanced version of the az-gti. The mention of a polar scope has brought me out in a cold sweat though 😂

Sounds ideal 😊Hehe I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting an easy life! I’ve always preferred to find everything manually visually. I just found it to be an enjoyable challenge. Polar alignment for imaging was just frustrating so easier is better in that case 😂 Hobbies are supposed to be fun after all!

That’s awesome. Thank you both so much. Will have a read up on that. Glad to hear that I’m not alone in struggling with the SA.

I have a Canon DSLR which I intended to use for some casual imaging. Planets, Moon, Milky Way, brighter Comets, Solar and that type of thing. I got a Star Adventurer mount to use as a tracking mount. After around 18 months of having both, I’m finding that I don’t use the mount a great deal. It can be a bit fiddly to get it polar aligned with PS Align Pro. It’s also a real pain to align on a target with just a red dot finder and live view on the camera. I’m wondering whether replacing the Star Adventurer with some kind of goto mount would simplify the process a little? I’d really like to be able to set the camera off capturing some images and then do some observing with my dob. Telescope wise, I’m using the camera with a SkyWatcher Equinox 80. I have a couple of tripods which both handle that and the SkyAdventurer comfortably. All thoughts/advice/recommendations greatly appreciated 😊

This evening I was fishing with my Dad and my cousin. As my cousin and I sat talking by the lake, I spotted the ISS rising. I pointed it out to him. He was really impressed to be seeing it. With ISS reaching the zenith, we both noticed a fainter object that appeared to be following the ISS. I speculated that it could be a capsule on its way to dock with the ISS, remembering the Dragon capsule had been observable during its approach to the ISS. A Barn Owl then flew across the field providing another happy distraction as part of the evening. At home, I started Googling to see what it was we had seen. Just as I was reading about the Boeing Starliner being on approach to the ISS, SkySafari popped up a notification to say that the ISS was rising. I ran downstairs, grabbed my 80mm refractor and APM UFF 30mm eyepiece. A couple of minutes later, as I stood outside, I saw the ISS beginning to appear. Through the eyepiece I couldn't see anything follow it. Similarly, naked eye I could only see the bright ISS on its own. However, as the ISS climbed, I realised that there a small bright point next to slightly rectangular appearing ISS. Instead of splitting stars, I was splitting space craft with my telescope! It became more obvious the higher they were. Based on tweets from Boeing around that time, the Starliner was about 200m from the ISS at this point. I kept following them until they disappeared behind the roof. A completely unexpected but really fun observation!

Thanks for the heads up, Mark. Managed to catch it

Hi @josefk, the site I use for Supernovae is this one: https://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html It very often has images of the SN which are really helpful in picking out the SN. It often takes a bit of comparison with SkySafari or an atlas to figure out where to look. This was is very bright so a relatively easy one to spot. Happy hunting

Thanks Stu. It seems to be holding its brightness well so far. Fingers crossed you can get it soon.

Picked the SN up again this evening using the 10” dob and 12.5mm Docter/Noblex. Looking at the core of M60 showed the SN really nicely in averted vision. Went for a bit of a pleasure cruise after that. Observing M57, Albireo, M56 and M27. Added the UHC filter on M27 for a final flourish. Despite the shorter nights, I’m really enjoying observing in these mild conditions. Especially when the Hesgehogs show up to keep me company. Feel very contented after such lovely relaxed observing.

Last weekend I observed Mercury as it sat next to the Pleiades. Was fantastic to observe in my 80mm refractor. Grabbed my DSLR and grabbed the image below. Stack of 10 frames, processed in Affinity Photo.

Nice sketch, Mircea! Impressed that you’re breaking out the calculus to determine the magnitude!

Great image. The SN is super bright compared to the host galaxy.

I suspect the moon won’t stop you seeing the SN. You might struggle to see the host galaxy. The core of M60 is so bright that I think that will still show pretty well with the moon. We really should just get a dimmer switch on the moon for such occasions 😉

Awesome Nik! I remember feeling really excited with my first SN. This was number 11 for me and I still get excited!

Sounds like a plan, Paul. Worth starting a thread. I’m sure there are tons of good ideas out there for something like that.

Yay! Well done on observing it. There’s nothing other than the SN of that brightness within NGC 4647 from the images I’ve seen so you can definitely chalk up SN number 2

Would your back be ok with it, Paul? I seem to recall your 8” causing you problems.

Congratulations Joe! I love observing SN, especially when you consider what you’re actually seeing. Very pleased you got your first one

Without a doubt. Mine is around 19.7 and I saw it with the 10”. Easy with a 16”!

Good luck, Stu. Fingers for some clear skies! I’ve observed this a couple of times this new moon period. Has been consistently brightening so you have a good shot at getting it.

Currently listed at mag 12.5 here: https://www.rochesterastronomy.org/supernova.html

Observed the SN again this evening. Best views at 240x but comfortably seen in direct vision at 120x. Seems to be brighter than previous viewing. Mid to low mag 12 based on comparison to other nearby stars.

Brilliant image, Andy. Thanks for posting. Lovely to see a capture like that after seeing it at the eyepiece!

Great images, Paul. Just enjoyed some time observing them over lunch time. Nice to be back to lunch time observing sessions in the sun